The effectiveness of a protocol without routine radiographs for follow-up of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients (CURVE): a study protocol

Authors

  • Jurre T F Baetsen Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen
  • Miranda L Hooff Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5313-6436
  • Pepijn Bisseling Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen
  • Johanna M van Dongen Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Movement Science Research Institute, Amsterdam; Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam
  • Dineke G van de Fliert Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5020-6174
  • Eric Hoebink Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Amphia, Breda
  • Diederik H R Kempen Department of Orthopedic Surgery, OLVG, Amsterdam https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4504-7756
  • Joost P H J Rutges Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam
  • Tom P C Schlösser Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht
  • Hanneke M van West Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam
  • Philip J Van der Wees IQ Healthcare and Department of Rehabilitation, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2881-5159
  • Paul C Willems Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Marinus de Kleuver Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen
  • on behalf of Dutch AIS consortium

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/17453674.2024.40904

Keywords:

adolescent idiopatic scoliosis, follow-up, Paediatric orthopaedics, patient empowered

Abstract

Background and purpose: Current follow-up protocols for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) are based on consensus and consist of regular full-spine radiographs to monitor curve progression and surgical complications. Consensus exists to avoid inappropriate use of radiographs in children. It is unknown whether a standard radiologic follow-up (S-FU) approach is necessary or if a patient-empowered follow-up (PE-FU) approach can reduce the number of radiographs without treatment consequences.
Methods and analyses: A nationwide multicenter pragmatic randomized preference trial was designed for 3 follow-up subgroups (pre-treatment, post-brace, post-surgery) to compare PE-FU and S-FU. 812 patients with AIS (age 10–18 years) will be included in the randomized trial or preference cohorts. Primary outcome is the proportion of radiographs with a treatment consequence for each subgroup. Secondary outcomes consist of the proportion of patients with delayed initiation of treatment due to non-routine radiographic follow-up, radiation exposure, societal costs, positive predictive value, and interrelation of clinical assessment, quality of life, and parameters for initiation of treatment during follow-up. Outcomes will be analyzed using linear mixed-effects models, adjusted for relevant baseline covariates, and are based on intention-to-treat principle. Study summary: (i) a national, multicenter pragmatic randomized trial addressing the optimal frequency of radiographic follow-up in patients with AIS; (ii) first study that includes patient-empowered follow-up; (iii) an inclusive study with 3 follow-up subgroups and few exclusion criteria representative for clinical reality; (iv) preference cohorts alongside to amplify generalizability; (v) first study conducting an economic evaluation comparing both follow-up approaches.

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References

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Published

2024-06-17

How to Cite

Baetsen, J. T. F. ., Hooff, M. L., Bisseling, P., van Dongen, J. M., van de Fliert, D. G., Hoebink, E., Kempen, D. H. R., Rutges, J. P. H. J., Schlösser, T. P. C., van West, H. M., Van der Wees, P. J., Willems, P. C., de Kleuver, M., & AIS consortium, on behalf of D. (2024). The effectiveness of a protocol without routine radiographs for follow-up of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients (CURVE): a study protocol. Acta Orthopaedica, 95, 298–306. https://doi.org/10.2340/17453674.2024.40904

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